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Advisory group flags accessible, affordable housing shortages and discrimination in Frederick County
Summary
At its Jan. 23 meeting, Frederick County’s Housing Element advisory group identified shortages of accessible and affordable housing, raised concerns about discrimination against tenants who use alternative income sources, and recommended zoning, funding and outreach changes to improve access to opportunity.
Karin Flom, a county planning staff member, led the Frederick County Housing Element Advisory Group on Jan. 23 in a review of fair housing challenges and “access to opportunity” across the county. Members identified shortages of physically accessible housing, limited affordable options that constrain housing choice, and continued reports of discrimination against prospective tenants based on source of income.
The advisory group described the lack of accessible housing and universal-design units as a gap affecting residents with disabilities, who may also face fixed incomes such as Social Security or Supplemental Security Income. Members connected affordability shortfalls to constrained choice, noting that when lower-cost housing is concentrated in particular places it can reinforce racial and ethnic segregation.
Group members discussed drivers of segregation, citing differing development pressures between Frederick County’s incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas, the comparative affordability of some older homes, and the legacy of land-use policies favoring single-family detached housing alongside historic racial and ethnic exclusion, including redlining. Members also said public misconceptions—such as the belief that affordable housing increases crime or depresses property values—remain an obstacle to siting new affordable units.
On what "access to opportunity" means locally, participants emphasized the ability to choose communities with access to jobs, transit, schools and health care. They identified housing cost as the primary limiter of that choice and discussed policy tools for increasing affordable housing near amenities, including the county’s Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program.
For next steps, the group suggested a mix of policy changes and outreach: adjust funding and incentives for affordable housing, revise land-use and zoning regulations to diversify housing types and locations, expand public education for officials and residents, and update building codes to encourage accessible, energy-efficient housing. Staff were urged to coordinate with the Division of Housing’s Affordable Housing Needs Assessment and its consulting team as the Housing Element moves into broader public outreach. The advisory group will pause until late spring or early summer.
